Saturday, February 6 vs. Stony Brook (2 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell men's basketball team who are currently 8-14 overall and 4-5 in America East play, host Stony Brook on Saturday afternoon at Costello Athletic Center.      

LAST TIME OUT
Redshirt sophomore Jahad Thomas scored a team-high 21 points, including the game-winner in the final seconds, to lift UMass Lowell to an 85-83 victory at America East foe Hartford on Feb. 3. Although the game was tied five times in the final five minutes of play, Thomas drove to the hoop and banked in an off-balance shot with just two seconds on the clock to secure the decision in exciting fashion. Thomas was joined by three other River Hawks in double digits on the night. Senior Mark Cornelius recorded 16 points and a career-high 11 rebounds en route to his first double-double. Freshmen Isaac White and Keith Hayes II added 13 and 12 points, respectively, as well.
 
LEADING THE FLOCK
Through 22 games in 2015-16, Jahad Thomas leads the squad with 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, in addition to 24 steals on the year. Isaac White follows with 10.4 points per game, while sophomore Matt Harris, who boasts a team-best 44.3 shooting percentage (39-88) from beyond the arc, averages 9.8 points. Junior Tyler Livingston chips in with 9.0 points, and Keith Hayes is first on the team from the foul line, shooting 84.4 percent (38-45). As a whole, UMass Lowell is shooting 46.3 percent (592-1279) from the floor, 36.4 percent (270-402) from beyond the arc and 67.2 percent (270-402) on free throws.

SCOUTING STONY BROOK
Stony Brook enters the contest at 18-4 overall and 9-0 in America East games, and is looking to continue its 14-game win steak. In their most recent outings, the Seawolves defeated Vermont, 72-61, on Jan. 30 and Binghamton, 76-51, on Feb. 3. Senior Jameel Warney is leading the squad, averaging 18.0 points and 10.4 boards per game, in addition to totaling 69 blocks. Classmate Carson Puriefoy sits first on the team with 73 helpers and 30 steals, while adding 14.2 points per game. Stony Brook is shooting 48.0 percent (639-1330) from the field, including 38.8 percent (162-417) from long range this year, giving the team a 15.8 scoring margin over its opponents. The Seawolves are also averaging in 40.1 boards.

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's contest marks the 14th meeting between UMass Lowell and Stony Brook in the sport of men's basketball. The Seawolves lead the all-time series, 9-4, including an 86-59 win when the team's met earlier this year on Jan. 9.

ACHIEVEMENTS UNLOCKED
Tyler Livingston reached the 500 point milestone and Jahad Thomas logged his 300th career rebound at Hartford on Feb. 3. Mark Cornelius recorded his 100th career assist and 50th career steal against  Binghamton on Jan. 24. In the team's win at UMBC on Jan. 16, Matt Harris reached 400 career points and Livingston achieved 200 rebounds. Previously this year, Jahad Thomas surpassed 500 points against Maine on Jan. 13, while Mark Cornelius attained 300 career points at SBU, as well.

A THREAT ON THREES
UMass Lowell is strong from beyond the arc for the second straight season. The team, who posted a season-high 12 threes at NJIT on Dec. 5 and at UConn on Dec. 20, is currently second in the America East for 3FGs made (8.3) and third for 3FG percentage (36.4). Through 22 games, Isaac White paces the team with 47 three-pointers.

ON-TARGET
The River Hawks are shooting well from the floor this year, boasting a league-best nine games shooting at least 50.0 percent. The team currently owns a 46.3 field goal percentage that puts them third in the league.

HOME SWEET HOME
Although the River Hawks have only 12 home games this year, the squad has a history of performing well in friendly confines. The team opened the year going 4-1 in Lowell, marking the program's best home record to start a season during the Division I era. With the 4-4 home record this year, UMass Lowell has accumulated a 103-57 mark in front of River Hawk Nation since 2003-04.

CHANGING IDENTITY
Following the high-scoring thriller against Sacred Heart on Nov. 18, Coach Duquette commented that this year's team has a different identity from his teams in the past because they have the ability to score a lot of points, whereas his squads are typically defensively oriented. So far this season, the River Hawks are averaging 74.4 points per game (third in the AE), compared to 61.4 points in 2014-15.

HELPING HANDS
On Nov. 24 against Wheelock, UMass Lowell recorded 25 assists as a team for the first time since 2009, when the team posted 32 against Division II Mercy (11/15/09). Jahad Thomas  logged a single-game high for the team this year with seven helpers at Boston College on Dec. 6. and at UConn on Dec. 20. As a whole, the River Hawks are third in the America East with 14.5 assists per game.

EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES
Having such a young team means everyone has to play a role. That was especially evident when the River Hawks' bench provided 59 points in the win at UMBC on Jan. 16. So far this season, the bench has been pivotal, outscoring their opponents, 654-498. In addition, the team has already logged 13 games with at least four double-digit scorers this year, including one game with six double-digit scorers (at Vermont, Jan. 18), marking the first time that had happened since Dec. 1, 2012 vs. Merrimack.

HOARDING THE BOARDS
With more size in the lineup this year, the River Hawks are focusing on pulling down more rebounds. In the team's win against Cornell on Nov. 29, the squad grabbed a season-high 46 boards, a number they beat just once in 2014-15. UMass Lowell is averaging 33.3 rebounds per game compared to 28.9 rebounds last year. Additionally, the team has already outrebounded its opponent eight times in 2015-16, surpassing the total number of times its did so during all of 2014-15.

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
UMass Lowell has earned several last-minute wins already this year for a 7-2 record in games decided by six points or less. Since 2014-15, 15 of the squad's most recent 20 wins have been decided by 10 points or less, including 13 by seven points or less. The team has even trailed in the second half in 13 games before battling back to earn the victories.